the collector's folio

John Peter Russell Most Popular Paintings

The 25 artworks by John Peter Russell our visitors ask for most, ranked by popularity and presented one by one, with the specification and the price of each hand-painted reproduction.

Edition 2026 · 25 artworks Each artwork painted to order
Linen canvas · Certificate of authenticity · Delivered worldwide John Peter Russell · 1858 – 1930

A Porter of the Royal Academy, John Peter Russell

1792 · Courtauld Gallery, London · original 64 x 77 cm

Admire 'A Porter of the Royal Academy' by John Peter Russell! This captivating 1792 pastel portrait showcases a gentleman with refined elegance, reflecting classic British art and capturing a moment of quiet sophistication.

View the most popular artwork of John Peter Russell ranked #1: A Porter of the Royal Academy

Art Movement: Impressionist Painting

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 1 of 94 artworks by John Peter Russell
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$27729 × 34 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$39364 × 77 cm Commission at original size

John Peter Russell, Vincent van Gogh (1886)

1886 · Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam · original 60.1 x 45.6cm

This intense 1886 oil portrait by John Peter Russell captures Van Gogh's piercing gaze. Discover this masterpiece and bring it home today.

View the most popular artwork of John Peter Russell ranked #2: Vincent van Gogh

Art Movement: Impressionism

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 2 of 94 artworks by John Peter Russell
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17727 × 37 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$22946 × 60 cm Commission at original size

In the morning, Alpes Maritimes from Antibes by John Peter Russell

1891 · National Gallery of Australia, Canberra · original 732 x 603 cm

Experience John Russell’s "In the Morning, Alpes Maritimes from Antibes," a stunning Impressionist landscape capturing the beauty of the French Riviera. A masterpiece by an Australian artist influenced by Monet & Van Gogh.

View the most popular artwork of John Peter Russell ranked #3: In the morning, Alpes Maritimes from Antibes

Art Movement: Impressionist Landscape
Color Palette: Neutrals

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 3 of 94 artworks by John Peter Russell
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17735 × 29 cm Commission this artwork

Portrait of a Lady by John Peter Russell

1768 · Yale Center for British Art, New Haven · original 62.9 x 76.2cm

View the most popular artwork of John Peter Russell ranked #4: Portrait of a Lady

Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 4 of 94 artworks by John Peter Russell
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17729 × 35 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$28963 × 76 cm Commission at original size

John Peter Russell: George IV (1762-1830), when Prince of Wales

1791 · Buckingham Palace, London · original 250.2 x 180.3cm

View the most popular artwork of John Peter Russell ranked #5: George IV (1762-1830), when Prince of Wales

Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 5 of 94 artworks by John Peter Russell
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17726 × 38 cm Commission this artwork

Cliffs at Falaise, (1904)

Discover 'Cliffs at Falaise' by John Peter Russell – a stunning Impressionist landscape painting of the Australian coast. Explore its textured beauty & evocative mood.

Art Movement: Impressionism
Color Palette: Nature

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 6 of 94 artworks by John Peter Russell
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17736 × 28 cm Commission this artwork

Samuel Moody the elder by John Peter Russell, 1790

1790 · Dulwich Picture Gallery, London · original 60.3 x 44.8cm

View the most popular artwork of John Peter Russell ranked #7: Samuel Moody the elder

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 7 of 94 artworks by John Peter Russell
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17727 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$22845 × 60 cm Commission at original size

William Wilberforce

Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 8 of 94 artworks by John Peter Russell
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17729 × 35 cm Commission this artwork

Fabián de Castro (1888)

1888 · Harvard Art Museums, Cambridge

View the most popular artwork of John Peter Russell ranked #9: Fabián de Castro

Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 9 of 94 artworks by John Peter Russell
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17732 × 31 cm Commission this artwork

The bay of Nice, (1891)

A serene impressionist view of the Mediterranean coastline featuring sunlit boats and beachgoers in John Peter Russell's The bay of Nice (1891), inviting you to bring this tranquil moment of leisure into your collection.

Art Movement: Impressionism
Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 10 of 94 artworks by John Peter Russell
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17739 × 26 cm Commission this artwork

John Peter Russell: Mon ami 'Polite

1900 · Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney · original 72.4 x 83.3cm

View the most popular artwork of John Peter Russell ranked #11: Mon ami 'Polite

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 11 of 94 artworks by John Peter Russell
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17735 × 29 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$32583 × 72 cm Commission at original size

George Whitefield

National Portrait Gallery, London

Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 12 of 94 artworks by John Peter Russell
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17727 × 37 cm Commission this artwork

Joshua Walker

Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 13 of 94 artworks by John Peter Russell
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17724 × 41 cm Commission this artwork

Doña Peppa Mattiocco (1886)

1886 · National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne · original 31 x 24 cm

Discover 'Doña Peppa Mattiocco' by John Peter Russell (1886), an evocative portrait of a captivating woman, showcasing the artist’s Impressionistic style and connection to Van Gogh & Monet.

View the most popular artwork of John Peter Russell ranked #14: Doña Peppa Mattiocco

Art Movement: Australian Impressionism
Color Palette: Neutrals

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 14 of 94 artworks by John Peter Russell
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17731 × 33 cm Commission this artwork

William Dodd

National Portrait Gallery, London

Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 15 of 94 artworks by John Peter Russell
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17728 × 35 cm Commission this artwork

Rural Employment by John Peter Russell

View the most popular artwork of John Peter Russell ranked #16: Rural Employment

Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 16 of 94 artworks by John Peter Russell
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17732 × 31 cm Commission this artwork

Madame Sisley on the banks of the Loing at Moret

1887 · Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney · original 53.0 x 78.5cm

Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 17 of 94 artworks by John Peter Russell
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17737 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$27079 × 53 cm Commission at original size

Portrait Of A Boy In A Red Coat

Color Palette: Dark

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 18 of 94 artworks by John Peter Russell
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17729 × 34 cm Commission this artwork

Mrs Charles Wesley In Old Age

Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 19 of 94 artworks by John Peter Russell
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17728 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

Mrs Janet Grizel Cuming, John Peter Russell

View the most popular artwork of John Peter Russell ranked #20: Mrs Janet Grizel Cuming

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 20 of 94 artworks by John Peter Russell
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17727 × 37 cm Commission this artwork

Reverend Charles Wesley

Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 21 of 94 artworks by John Peter Russell
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17729 × 35 cm Commission this artwork

Portrait Of A Man by John Peter Russell

View the most popular artwork of John Peter Russell ranked #22: Portrait Of A Man

Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 22 of 94 artworks by John Peter Russell
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17729 × 35 cm Commission this artwork

Cook Cooper Taylor And Sons, John Peter Russell

View the most popular artwork of John Peter Russell ranked #23: Cook Cooper Taylor And Sons

Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 23 of 94 artworks by John Peter Russell
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17736 × 28 cm Commission this artwork

Samuel Wesley, John Peter Russell

Explore John Russell’s portrait of Samuel Wesley, a classical oil painting depicting a young boy scholar. Admire its rich detail & symbolic elements – status, learning, and a touch of melancholy.

View the most popular artwork of John Peter Russell ranked #24: Samuel Wesley

Art Movement: Neoclassicism
Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 24 of 94 artworks by John Peter Russell
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17725 × 40 cm Commission this artwork

John Peter Russell: Portrait of a gentleman half length in a blue coat

Admire John Russell’s ‘Portrait of a Gentleman.’ A neoclassical oil painting showcasing vibrant blue & elegant details. Discover this formal 18th/19th-century artwork!

View the most popular artwork of John Peter Russell ranked #25: Portrait of a gentleman half length in a blue coat

Art Movement: Neoclassicism

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 25 of 94 artworks by John Peter Russell
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17727 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

The artist

John Peter Russell

1858 – 1930

Quick facts

Lifespan72 years
Vibecalm
Museums on APSNational Gallery of Australia, Art Gallery of New South Wales, National Gallery of Victoria, Art Gallery of South Australia, Dulwich Picture Gallery
Emotional tonemelancholic
Top 3 worksA Porter of the Royal Academy, Vincent van Gogh, In the morning, Alpes Maritimes from Antibes
Topics exploredportrait, portraits, beach, women, formal
Movementsneoclassicism
Typical colorsearthy

Biography

The Rediscovered World of John Peter Russell

John Peter Russell remains a compelling, almost paradoxical figure in the history of Australian art. Often dubbed “Australia’s Lost Impressionist,” his story is one of transatlantic artistic exchange, personal tragedy, and eventual rediscovery. Born in Sydney in 1858, Russell's path diverged from the typical colonial trajectory when, at eighteen, he embarked for Europe – initially to pursue engineering, but swiftly drawn into the vibrant world of art. This decision would place him at the very heart of the burgeoning Impressionist movement and forge connections with some of its most iconic figures. His early education at Goulburn School provided a foundation, yet it was his studies under Alphonse Legros at the Slade School of Fine Art in London (1881-1883) that truly ignited his artistic ambitions. This formal training instilled in him a strong draughtsmanship, but it was his subsequent move to Paris and tutelage under Fernand Cormon that unlocked his passion for color and light.

Parisian Circles and the Dawn of Impressionism

Paris in the 1880s was a crucible of artistic innovation, and Russell quickly immersed himself within its dynamic circles. It was here he formed a particularly close friendship with Vincent van Gogh, a relationship documented by Russell’s striking 1886 portrait of the artist – considered one of the most important depictions of Van Gogh created by a contemporary. This portrait offers a poignant glimpse into Van Gogh's character and foreshadows the emotional intensity that would come to define his work. Beyond Van Gogh, Russell’s artistic development was profoundly shaped by his encounter with Claude Monet. Spending time painting alongside Monet at Belle Île, he absorbed the techniques of *plein air* painting, embracing broken brushstrokes and a heightened sensitivity to atmospheric effects. This period marked a turning point in Russell's style, as he began to fully embrace the principles of Impressionism. However, his influence wasn’t solely received; Russell also proved to be a significant source of inspiration for others. Henri Matisse himself credited Russell with introducing him to the core tenets of Impressionism and color theory during a visit to Belle Île in the 1890s – a testament to Russell's understanding and articulation of these artistic principles.

Belle Île: A Sanctuary of Light and Color

The island of Belle Île, off the coast of Brittany, became central to Russell’s life and art. He settled there with his wife, Marianna Mattiocco – a model for Auguste Rodin – and established a home that served as both studio and sanctuary. The rugged coastline, dramatic cliffs, and ever-changing light of Belle Île provided endless inspiration. His seascapes from this period are particularly noteworthy, capturing the raw energy and beauty of the Atlantic Ocean with vibrant color and loose brushwork. Works like *Les aiguilles de Coton, Belle-Île* (1897), a delicate watercolor depicting the island’s distinctive rock formations, exemplify his ability to translate fleeting impressions into enduring images. Russell's style during this time was characterized by an optimistic portrayal of landscapes and figures, infused with a joyful sense of light and color. He wasn’t merely replicating what he saw; he was interpreting it through the lens of his own unique sensibility. Paintings like *Mon Ami 'Polite'* (c. 1900), a portrait of a local fisherman, demonstrate his skill in capturing not only physical likeness but also the character and atmosphere of his subjects.

Tragedy, Obscurity, and Lasting Legacy

The course of Russell’s life took a tragic turn with the death of his wife, Marianna, in 1907. Overwhelmed by grief, he made the devastating decision to destroy approximately 400 of his paintings – an immeasurable loss to art history. He eventually returned to Sydney in old age, living a relatively quiet life and largely withdrawing from the artistic community. Following his death in 1930, Russell’s work fell into obscurity for decades. However, thanks to the efforts of his niece, Thea Proctor, and subsequent scholarship, his reputation began to be restored in the late 20th century. Biographies were published, exhibitions were mounted, and a growing appreciation emerged for his unique contribution to both Australian and European art. Today, Russell’s works are held in major galleries around the world, including the Musée d'Orsay and the Musée Rodin in Paris, as well as prominent institutions in Australia. His story serves as a powerful reminder of the often-overlooked contributions of artists who operate outside the mainstream, and his work stands as a testament to the enduring power of Impressionism and the beauty of light and color. He remains a vital bridge between Australian and French artistic traditions, finally receiving the recognition he deserved as a pioneering figure in modern art.

Questions & Answers

How popular are John Peter Russell's artworks?

A Stats page exists for John Peter Russell, presenting statistics about the artist's artworks on this website.

How many artworks by John Peter Russell are available to browse?

You can browse 94 artworks by John Peter Russell on the All Artworks page.

Is there a complete list of John Peter Russell's artworks?

Every work by John Peter Russell on this website can be browsed from the artist's All Artworks page.

By the WikiOO.org Editorial Team Updated Sept. 1, 2026

Collector's quiz

John Peter Russell is often referred to as Australia's what?
With which famous artist did John Peter Russell develop a close friendship and paint a portrait of in 1886?
Russell spent significant time painting alongside Claude Monet at which location, absorbing Impressionist techniques?
Which artist did Russell introduce to impressionism and colour theory during a visit to Belle Île in the 1890s?
What tragic event led Russell to destroy approximately 400 of his paintings?

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